The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, India seem beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
